Minestar Performance Engineer

MineStar Performance Engineer

Your work shapes the world at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

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As a MineStar Performance Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of MineStar applied to autonomous and staffed mining operations. This role focuses on leading the research, design, and evolution of the next generation of performance simulators. You will be responsible for defining how simulation-based performance analysis is built, validated, and applied, ensuring it reflects real world operating conditions and supports meaningful performance insights. You will own the standard work associated with using performance simulators for studies, experiments, and improvement initiatives. This includes establishing consistent methodologies, defining inputs and assumptions, interpreting outputs, and translating results into actionable recommendations for operations, technology, and product teams. You will collaborate closely with MineStar engineering, performance hubs, and operational teams. Your work will directly influence how performance is evaluated, how new capabilities are tested, and how future MineStar solutions are shaped.

Beyond simulation development, you will act as a performance subject matter expert, applying structured methodologies to define, measure, analyze, improve, and control performance across MineStar applications. You will support investigations into operational challenges, contribute to tool and product enhancements, and enable data driven decision making across the organization.

Why this role is exciting:

• Blend of research, tool development, and applied performance studies.
• High level of influence, working with diverse stakeholders across engineering, operations, and product teams.
• Exposure to global operations and collaboration across sites, regions, and disciplines.

What you will do:

• Lead the research and design of next generation MineStar performance simulators.
• Define and maintain standard work for using simulators in performance studies and analysis.
• Develop simulation frameworks that accurately represent operational, system, and human interactions.
• Design experiments and performance studies to evaluate scenarios, configurations, and improvement opportunities.
• Analyze and interpret simulation outputs to identify performance drivers, constraints, and tradeoffs.
• Partner with engineering, performance hubs, and operations teams to validate assumptions and results.
• Contribute to MineStar performance methodologies, playbooks, and best practices.
• Support broader initiatives with performance analysis for new product development and continuous improvement.

What skills you will have:

Technical Excellence: Strong understanding of mining operations and MineStar applications, with the ability to translate operational reality into analytical and simulation models.

Consulting: Experience applying structured performance improvement methodologies, including defining metrics, baselines, and evaluation criteria. Comfortable working with simulation tools, data analysis, and scenario-based evaluation. Ability to connect model outputs to operational decisions. Curious, methodical, and focused on learning, validation, and long-term performance impact.

Problem Solving: Structured, systems level thinker able to work across technical, operational, and analytical domains.

Communication: Ability to clearly communicate complex simulation results and performance insights to diverse audiences.

Top candidates will also have:

• Degree in Mining Engineering, Automation Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field.
• Experience with simulation, modeling, or digital twins in mining or industrial environments.
• Exposure to performance studies, operational readiness, or technology validation programs.
• Experience in mining operations and MineStar technology.
• Pre-Advanced English

The primary location for this position is Phoenix, AZ. This position may require 25% travel. Domestic relocation assistance is available. Visa sponsorship, international assignments, or payroll transfers are not available for this role.

Some of the offered benefits:

• Medical plan
• Dental plan
• Medicines reimbursement
• Psychological, Legal, Social and Finance Support Program
• Private pension plan
• Profit share
• Meal assistance
• Christmas basket
• Transportation
• Life and personal insurance
• Extended maternity and paternity leave
• Employee resources group (Young Professional, Women in Networking, LAMBDA (LGBTQIA+), Latin Group and Active in Sport)

Caterpillar reserves the right to change or modify benefits at any time, subject to prior notice and in compliance with legal requirements. Benefit eligibility may vary by position and location.

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